1. A FEW WORDS ABOUT PROFESSORS
What You May Not Know…

2. MYTHS ABOUT PROFESSORS
 You may hear from other students that professors don’t care about their
students, especially when they are professors at large institutions.
 Although this may be true for a small majority of professors, the vast majority
of them care greatly about you and want to be sure that you learn in their
courses.

3. WHAT DO PROFESSORS DO EXACTLY?
Professors have obligations that go far beyond
teaching.
Many of those obligations go beyond the
classroom and are often carried out away from
the office or even off campus.
Most faculty at four-year colleges are expected
to “engage in creative activities.”

4. EXPECTATIONS OF PROFESSORS
 Professors are expected to:
 Conduct research
 Write for professional journals
 Publish books
 Present papers at professional meetings
 Create portfolios
 And the list goes on and on….

5. EXPECTATIONS OF PROFESSORS CONT’D
 Professors are also expected to perform “service activities.”
 Serving on a variety of committees
 Acting as student advisors
 Providing services to their profession by reviewing scholarly
papers
 Holding offices in professional organizations
 Attending professional meetings
 And the list goes on…

6. GETTING TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS
 Do your “homework” before class
 Before going to class on the first day, check to see if
your professor has a webpage.
 Web pages often present a less formal image of your
professor than you will see in class.
 You can often find information regarding their
position, degrees, and colleges they attended. Their
hobbies and other interests are sometimes included as
well.

7. GETTING TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS
CONT’D
 The better you know your professors, the less
uncomfortable or afraid you’ll be to ask for help. You will
also be more likely to succeed in the class if you have a
good relationship with your professors.

8. GETTING TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS
CONT’D
Communicate consistently
Get involved on campus
Participate in class
Make appointments
Get to know other faculty and staff members

9. WHAT YOUR PROFESSORS EXPECT
FROM YOU
 College professors expect you to…
 Remember that you’re in college to get an education
 Show interest in whatever they teach
 Be self-motivated
 Know how to study and manage your time
 Do more with course material than simply memorize it
 Be respectful